Joe Burrow strains calf: QB options for Bengals if star signal-caller is sidelined significant amount of time

 

 

Joe Burrow is the impetus for the Cincinnati Bengals' first Super Bowl victory and the one guy the team cannot afford to lose. Cincinnati is in limbo with their franchise quarterback after Burrow was taken away from Bengals practise on Thursday with a calf injury.

The severity of the injury for Burrow and the Bengals is unknown, but the team will soon learn how long its star will be gone. If Burrow is out for an extended period of time, the Bengals will have to hustle to keep their Super Bowl dreams alive.

Of course, Cincinnati requires Burrow to win a championship. There are still several possibilities on the roster and in free agency to contend in the AFC this season.


Cincinnati signed Siemian to a one-year contract as the Bengals' backup quarterback this summer. Siemian has started six games in the last four years and 30 in his eight-year career, with no wins since 2017.
Last season, Siemian appeared in two games, finishing 15 of 26 for 184 yards (57.7%) with a touchdown and an interception (76.4 rating). If the Bengals do not want to start Siemian, there may be better possibilities in free agency.

 

If Wentz is looking for one more chance to start, he may have found it with the Bengals. Last year, Wentz completed 62.3% of his passes for 1,755 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions (80.2 rating), but he was benched in favour of Taylor Heinicke and Sam Howell. 

Wentz has started for three different clubs in the previous three seasons and has yet to find work (he is 30 years old). Patience may have been a virtue for the veteran, who has started 92 of his 93 career games. 

 

Bridgewater is a quality backup quarterback who can start a few games, which may be useful insurance for the Bengals. He started two games and played five for the Miami Dolphins last season, completing 62% of his passes for 683 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions (85.6 rating).

Bridgewater, 30, started 14 games for the Denver Broncos in 2021, completing 66.9% of his throws for 3,052 yards, 18 touchdowns, and seven interceptions (94.9 rating). Bridgewater is a very nice guy to have lead the offence if the Bengals want a trustworthy alternative who can keep a great squad in games.

 

Flacco is 38 years old and has played in the NFL for 15 years.

Some clubs still regard him as a seasoned backup, despite the fact that he's travelled around the league since leaving the Baltimore Ravens. Last season, Flacco started four games for the New York Jets and completed 57.6% of his passes for 1,051 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions (76.2 rating). At the very least, he's a useful backup.

The former Super Bowl MVP is unlikely to be called up, since his days as a starting quarterback look to be over. In 2022, Foles started two games with the Indianapolis Colts, completing only 59.5% of his throws for 224 yards, no touchdowns, and four interceptions (34.3 rating). In the proper scheme, Foles is a great insurance policy who can help a competing club win a game or two. The Bengals might fare far worse if Burrow is only out for a week or two.